Automatic scale.



R. J. ZANONE.

AUTOMATIC SCALE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY n. 1915.

Patentd July 4, 1916.

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3.1. ZANONE. AUTOMATIC SCALE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 17' I915.

1,189,416. Patented July 4,1916.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD J. ZANONE, OF NEW ALBANY, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE AUTOMATIC PACKAGE SCALE COMPANY, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, A CORPORATION OF KEN- TUCKY.

AUTOMATIC SCALE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 4, 1916.

Application filed May 17, 1915. Serial No. 28,507.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD J. ZANONE,

classes such as coffee, rice, sugar, etc., either.

continuously or intermittently.

An object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which shall be economical in construction, accurate in operation and durable in service.

\Vith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel arrangement and construction of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification, wherein is set forth an embodiment of the invention but it is to be understood that such changes and modifications may be resorted to as come within the scope of the claims appended hereunto.

Referring to the drawings wherein similar reference characters designate like parts in the several views, Figure 1, is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention showing the'vario-us parts in normal position, i. 0. ready to receive a commodity to be weighed; Fig. 2, a central, vertical longitudinal section showing the parts in the position assumed in discharging a weighed portion; Fig. 3, a longitudinal section of the upper portion showing the parts in normal position; Fig. 4, a top plan, with the receiving hopper removed; Fig. 5, a detached detail of the latch which restrains the gate lever; Fig. 6, a'perspective of the gate; Fig. 7, a perspective view of the gate operating lever.

Referring in detail to the drawing the reference numeral .1 designates a frame comprising a pair of side members 2-- rigidly connected by transverse spacing bars -3 and 4-. A pair of longitudinal bars 5 are secured to the upper ends of the sides 2 and extend fore and aft therefrom, these bars are held in spaced parallel relationship by means of transverse bars -6 and 7-. A receiving hopper 8- is supported between the forward ends of the bars 5, the downwardly converging walls of which lead to a delivery chute 9. A retarding bar 10, disposed across the hopper. above the entrance to the chute, serves to sustain the weight of a contained commodity and retard the flow thereof. A slide .-11- adjustably secured on a bracket 12' by means of a set screw 13, proects into the chute and may be adjusted to regulate, or cut off, the flow of commodity therethrough. Below the regulating slide the rear wall of the chute slopes forward, forming an incline l4- 'on which the commodity falls, relieving from the shock thereof a gate -15 which serves to close the lower end of the chute and stop the flow of commodity. A brush 16- is secured on the forward side of the chute in such relationship thereto that the bristles extend below the edge thereof and form a yielding abutment for the forward edge of the gate, thereby obviating any danger of the gate being held in a partially closed position by reason of particles of commodity being caught between the edge of the gate and its abutment. The gate is swung by means of arms 17 from the forward edge of the bars 5, being suspended therefrom by pins 18. The point of suspension of the gate lies forward of its center, hence it tends to close by gravity. A scale beam comprising a pair of parallel arms 19 held in spaced relationship by transverse bars 20, 21- is pivotally mounted on the frame by means of a pivot -22 which rests on blocks -23. A graduated scale bar -24 is secured along one of the arms 19 and a poise weight 25 is adapted to be adjusted therealong. A weight -26 is attached to the bar 20 on the rear end of the scale beam, themass of which is more than sufficient to counterbalance attachments on the forward end thereof. On the rear ends of the bars 5 are depending portions 27, between which on a rod -28,,a gate operating lever 29 is mounted. This lever comprises a relatively long vertical arm 30- and a short horizontal arm 31-. The vertical arm is connected by means of a rod -31 with the gate, the arrangement being such that when the arm 30 is in a normal, or vertical position, the gate is open, and when it is released the gate closes. The arm 30 is held in its normal position by means of a catch 32 on a trip lever 33-, behind which 20 on the scale beam. The catch 32 is piv-' oted on the trip lever, preferably coincidently therewith, the rear end 36- resting on a pin 37 extending from the lever, the arrangement beingsuch that the catch will rise to permit the detent 3% to pass without raising the trip lever and when the trip lever is raised it carries the catch with it releasing the lever 29 and consequently allowing the gate to close. On the inner side of the bar 20 of the scale beam, is a horizontal forward extension 38 which comes into contact with the horizontal arm .31 of the gate lever and returns it to, and

maintains it in, its normal position; thus holding the gate open as long as the rear end of the scale beam is depressed.

A weighing hopper -39 is suspended from the forward ends of the arms 19 by suitable means such as cars 40. A distance rod 41 is pivotally connected to the rear wall of the weighing hopper and to a bracket 42 extended from the frame, the distance between the pivotal points of which is the same as that between the pivotal point of the scale beam and the point of suspension of the weighing hopper, this insures the vertical position of the hopper. The weighing hopper comprises vertical side walls and a drop bottom, or closure 43 which extends upward at an acute angle from the front wall and is swung from the rear wall by suitable means such as hinges 44. A counter weight l5 extended rearward therefrom serves to return the bottom, when open, to a closed position in which it is retained by gravity actuated curved latch members 4(3 which are pivoted respectively on each side of the hopper and depend therefrom extending through slotted guides 47 which are extended from the sides of the bottom. The latch members are provided with notches 48 which engage with the guides.

A funnel 49- is supported beneath the weighing hopper, on extensions -50 from the frame, in position to receive commodity discharged therefrom. A rod 51 is disposed transversely of the hopper in position for the latches 46 to contact therewith, as the weighing hopper descends, thereby releasing the bottom and permitting the same to open. A knob -52- positioned on the front of the funnel and adapted to be slid in a guideway -53 thereon, is provided with a pin 5L which extends through the wall of the funnel and may be interposed in the path of a detent -5 5, extended from the front of the weighing hopper, to arrest the downward movement thereof, or to prevent its upward movement amount it is desired to weigh, a commodity is conducted, either intermittently or continuously from a suitable source of supply, into the receiving hopper thence it flows into the weighing hopper. When the weighing hopper has received a quantity of commodity to'counter-balance the weight on the scale beam it will descend. As the rear end of the scale beam rises, under the influence of the commodity weighted hopper, the extension 38 leaves the arm 31 of the gate lever, this would permit the gate 15 to close, but that it is held by the catch 32 engaged with the arm 30. It is to be observed that at the moment that the scale beam is in equilibrium the weighing hopper hangs free from connection, or contact with any actuating or controlling means which would tend to retard its movement, or interfere with the accuracy of the weighing. As the rear end of the scale beam rises above the horizontal, the vertical projection 35 contacts with, and raises the trip lever 38, this releases the gate lever and allows the gate to close, shutting off the flow of commodity into the weighing hopper. Immediately after the closing of the gate the lower ends of the latches 46 contact with the rod 51, whereby they are released from engagement with the guides 47, and theweight of the contained commodity causes the bottom to drop open, the outflowing commodity holding it open. When the flow of commodity ceases the weight 45 will cause the bottom to close, and the weight on the scale beam will return the weighing hopper to its normal elevated position. As the rear end of the scale beam descends, the projection 88 strikes the arm 31 of the gate lever, thereby opening the gate. As the gate lever returns to its normal position the lug 84 on the upright arm 30 thereof, raises and passes under the latch 32 without moving the trip lever. The foregoing cycle will be repeated continuously as long as the commodity is supplied to the weighing hopper, unless the stop 54 is shifted into the path of the detent 55, in which case the weighing hopper will remain at that point, until the catch is released by hand when it will complete its movement, discharge and rise for a fresh charge. It will be seen by this means, single packages may be weighed at will, the weighing operation being interrupted while the package is being tied. By moving the stop 54 in the path of the detent 55 while the hopper is at the lower portion of its movement so that the detent will contact therewith as it moves upward, the hopper may be retained in the down position when empty, in this way the Weighing operation may be suspended while the character of the commodity is being changed.

Having thus described my invention so that any one skilled in the art pertaining thereto may make and use the same, I claim:

' '1. In a scale, a scale beam, a weighing wall and hinged to the rear wall thereof,

curved latch rods, pivotally attached to the sides of thehopper and adapted to engage and retain the bottom in a closed position, a funnel in fixed relationship to the frame positioned below said hopper,. and a rod within said funnel with which the latch rods contact, as the hopper descends, to release the bottom.

3-.- In a scale, a frame, a scale beam pivoted thereon, a hopper suspended from said beam, a drop bottom on said hopper inclined upward at an acute angle to the front wall and hinged to the rear wall thereof, curved latch rods, pivotally attached to the side of the hopper and adapted to engage and retain the bottom in a closed position, a funnel in fixed relationship to the frame positioned below said hopper, a rod within said funnel with which the latch rods contact, as the hopper descends, to release the bottom, a detent extended from the forward side of the hopper, a stop on the funnel adapted to be interposed in the path of said detent to arrest the descent or ascent of the weighing hopper according, as it is interposed before or after the descent thereof.

4. In a scale, a frame, a receiving hopper having a bottom outlet supported thereby, a gate adapted to close said outlet, a lever, a rod connecting said gate and lever, a scale beam pivotally mounted on said frame, the rear end of said beam adapted to actuate said lever to open said gate and hold it in that position.

5. In a scale, a frame, a receiving hopper, having a bottom outlet supported thereby, a gate adapted to close said outlet, a lever, a rod connecting said gate and lever, a scale beam pivotally mounted on said frame, a weighing hopper suspended from the forward end of said scale beam, the rear end of said beam adapted to come in contact with and depress said lever to open said gate and hold it open while the hopper is empty.

gate adapted to close said outlet, a lever, arod connecting said lever and gate, a scale beam pivotally mounted on said frame, the rear end of the beam adapted to come in contact with and depress said lever to open said gate and hold it open while the hopper is empty, a trip lever mounted on said frame and adapted to engage with said gate lever to hold said gate open after the beam has ceased to contact wlth the gate lever when rising under the influence of a loaded hopper, said beam adapted as it approaches the upper limit of its movement to actuate said trip lever to release the gate lever and allow the gate to close.

7 In a scale, a frame, a receiving hopper having a bottom outlet supported thereby, a gravity gate adapted to close said outlet, a bell crank lever, a rod operatively connecting said lever and gate whereby they move in unison, a scale beam mounted on the frame, the rear end thereof adapted to come in contact with and actuate said lever to open the gate.

8. In a scale, a frame, a receiving hopper having a bottom outlet supported thereby, a gravity gate adapted to close said outlet, a bell crank lever, a rod operatively connecting said lever and gate whereby they move in unison, a scale beam mounted on said frame, the rear end thereof adapted to come in contact with and actuate said lever to open the gate, a catch adapted to engage with said lever and hold the gate open after the beam ceases to contact therewith, and means whereby the beam, as it approaches the upper limit of its movement releases the catch and allows the gate to close.

9. In a scale, a frame, a receiving hopper having a bottom outlet supported thereby, a gravity gate adapted to close said outlet, a bell crank lever, a rod operatively connecting said lever and gate whereby they move in unison, a scale beam mounted on said frame, the rear end thereof adapted to come in contact with and actuate said lever to open the gate, a weighing hopper suspended from the forward end of the scale beam, a catch adapted to engage with said lever and hold the gate open after the beam ceases to contact therewith, means whereby the beam as it approaches the upper limit of its movement releases the catch and al lows the gate to close, a drop bottom on said weighing hopper inclined upward at an acute angle to the front wall and hinged to the rear wall thereof, curved latch rods pivotally attached to the side of the hopper and adapted to engage and retain the bottom in a closed position, a funnel in fixed relationship to the frame positioned below said hopper, and a rod within said funnel with which the latch rods contact, as the hopper descends, to release the bottom.

10. In a scale, a scale beam, a weighing hopper suspended from the forward end thereof, a chute for delivering material to said hopper, a closure for said chute, means operable by the rear end of said beam on the downward movement thereof to open said closure, means for holding said closure open during the upward movement of the rear end of said beam, and releasing means operable by the rear end of said beam on its upward movement to release said holding means and allow said closure to close.

11. In a scale, a scale beam, a hopper suspended therefrom, a chute for delivering material to said hopper, a closure for said chute adapted to close by gravity, means for opening said closure, means for holding said closure open, and means actuated by the rear end of said beam to release said holding means.

12. In a scale, a scale beam, a hopper suspended therefrom, a chute for delivering material to said hopper, a closure for said chute adapted to closeby' gravity, means for opening said closure adapted to be actuated by the rear end of said beam, means for holding said closure open, and means actuated by the rear end of said beam to release said holding means.

13. Ina scale, a scale beam, a hopper suspended therefrom, a chute for delivering material to said hopper, a closure for said chute adapted to close by gravity, means for opening said closure, adapted to be actuated by the rear end of said beam, means for holding said closure open, and means for releasing said holding means after the beam passes the horizontal position on its upward movement.

14. In a scale, a scale beam, a hopper suspended therefrom, a chute for deliverin material to said hopper, a closure for said chute adapted to be closed by gravity, means for opening said closure as the rear end of the scale beam approaches the lower limit of its movement, means for holding said closure open as the rear end of the beam rises, and means for releasing said holding means after the beam' has passed the horizontal position on its upward movement.

RICHARD J. ZANONE.

Oopie: oi this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patenti,

Washington, D. C." v 

